petitions

8 definitions • 12 examples

a document signed by a large number of people demanding or asking for some action from the government or another authority:

I signed a petition against the proposed closure of the local hospital today.

a formal letter to a law court asking for a particular legal action:

She's filing a petition for divorce.

to make a formal request for something, especially in a law court:

They're petitioning for/about better facilities for disabled people.

[ + obj + to infinitive ] I think we should petition the government to increase the grant for the project.

She is petitioning for a re-trial.

a document signed by a large number of people requesting some action from the government or another authority, or law a formal letter to a court of law requesting a particular legal action:

More than 2000 people signed a petition to protect a wildlife area from development.

law She’s filing a petition for divorce.

a document signed by a large number of people asking the government or authorities to do something or not to do something:

a petition against/for sth Trade unions have started a petition against the merger.

a formal letter to a court of law asking for a particular decision:

They had filed a petition in federal court on behalf of the detainees.

to make a formal request for a decision or action, especially from a court of law:

He could have petitioned for the appeals court to consider his request.

The company has petitioned the organization to keep details of the new phone secret.

to sign a document with large numbers of other people asking the government or authorities to do something or not to do something:

petition for/against sth Local people petitioned against the closure of the hospital.